Equine Assisted Therapy

Horses are by nature social, peaceful and cooperative creatures. Like humans they rely on relationships and connection for their safety and well-being.

Being prey animals, horses embody what it means to live authentically. They rely on their senses and respond to experiences and the information they gather from their environment, moment to moment. 

Horses respond to us humans in relation to our limbic (emotional) and nervous systems. They are able to 'read' how we feel through awareness of our heart rate, subtle facial expressions and body language. Horses do not possess our highly developed frontal cortex, they don't have our busy heads! 

Horses seek authentic connections that go beyond words and thoughts. Working therapeutically with horses, clients are supported to 'access' hidden emotions and gain clarity on overwhelming or confusing feelings. It supports clients to regulate their nervous systems, to be more present and increases self awareness. 

Equine Assisted Therapy at Silver Horse invites members of the herd to interact with a client during therapy sessions. These may include specific activities, or simply time spent observing or being with individual horses or the herd as a whole.

There are no ridden elements, and no previous experience with horses is required. Sessions are tailored to individual clients, and we provide a safe and supported environment for both clients and the herd. 

Our herd is kept in a species appropriate environment and they are encouraged to be horses: they have friends, freedom and forage and the ability to make choices about when they eat, sleep and socialise. This environment supports their emotional and mental well-being which is essential in asking them to work with humans in this way.